The Vice Chancellor of Dominican University, Ibadan, Prof. Anthony Akinwale, has said that the challenges facing education in the country require more funding and cooperation from stakeholders.

Akinwale made this known on Wednesday at the third matriculation ceremony of the university in Ibadan.

The vice chancellor said the way to tackle the challenges was for all stakeholders to work together.

“It has come to a stage where we must all admit to spend more fund on education in Nigeria.

“I think having a free education in Nigeria is a mirage.

“If we want cheap education, then we will end up producing graduates that are not competent.

“We must complement the efforts of the government in funding the education sector in the country for us to produce competent graduates.

“Having a free education is a mirage and such students may not be able to compete favourably with other university students in other climes,”Akinwale said.

The vice Chancellor said the mission of Dominican University was to produce a new generation of Nigerians of multiple competence.

According to him, the university, beyond the acquisition of academic degrees, also offers holistic formation that is intellectual, technical and ethical.

Akinwale told the matriculating students that the university would enable them to acquire multiple competence required for building a new Nigeria.

Delivering the matriculation lecture, a don, Dr Nancy Woods, called on the matriculating students to be mindful of the peer group they follow while in school.

Woods, a senior lecturer in Computer Science, said that the type of friends they mingle with would dictate the grade they would  have when graduating.

She also urged them to map out their plans well in order not to regret their actions in future.

The lecturer also advised the students to remain focused on their goals while obeying the rules and regulations of the university.

In his remarks, Fr. Patrick Uche, the Dean of Students Affairs of the university,  said that  a total of 66 students matriculated.

According to Uche, what distinguishes the university is its blending of theories with practicals, all rooted on sound moral formation that would help in building a good society.

The Registrar of the university, Fr. Kenneth Nkadi, said the institution was set up to produce people with passion, moral skills and knowledge to solve societal problems in a way that would be pleasing to God and acceptable to mankind.